CUK Carnival Plc

Theme cruises feature dance pros and celebrities from the hit ABC show; all cruises offer special programming and guest dance competitions on every sailing

SEATTLE, Oct. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland America Line will continue the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" program in 2015/2016 due to its overwhelming popularity and success. For the third year, the collaboration brings the excitement of ABC's hit show "Dancing with the Stars" to all of the premium ships in the Holland America Line fleet. The program will culminate with the annual Champions Cruise competition on ms Nieuw Amsterdam's Jan. 10, 2016, western Caribbean voyage.

The 2015 schedule will continue to feature "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" programming on all sailings in addition to six special "Dancing with the Stars" theme cruises highlighting the show's professional dancers and celebrities. In 2013 and 2014 select theme cruises featured professional dancers Tristan MacManus, Kym Johnson, Sharna Burgess, Emma Slater, Lacey Schwimmer, Chelsie Hightower, Mark Ballas and Derek Hough, along with television personality Carson Kressley, singer Joey Fatone, actress Sabrina Bryan and Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson.

"On every cruise throughout the year our 'Dancing with the Stars: At Sea' lessons are a huge draw and the competition to dance for the Champions Cruise is intense, which tells us we have a very successful and engaging program," said Richard Meadows, Holland America Line's executive vice president, sales, marketing and guest programs. "Dancing always has been a feature activity on our ships, and the partnership with 'Dancing with the Stars' has enabled us to provide guests with a very special and exclusive experience."

Sail with Dance Pros and Celebrities from the ABC Show on Theme Cruises
The six "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" theme cruises for the 2015/16 season are:

• Jan. 3, 2015: Seven-day eastern Caribbean cruise aboard ms Westerdam that sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Jan. 10, 2015: Seven-day eastern Caribbean cruise aboard ms Westerdam that sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• June 6, 2015: Seven-day Bermuda cruise aboard ms Veendam that sails roundtrip from Boston, Mass.
• June 13, 2015: Seven-day Canada/New England cruise aboard ms Veendam that sails from Boston, Mass, to Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• Jan. 3, 2016: Seven-day eastern Caribbean cruise aboard ms Nieuw Amsterdam that sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Champions Cruise: Jan. 10, 2016: Seven-day western Caribbean cruise aboard ms Nieuw Amsterdam that sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Each theme cruise features lively guest performances from the professional dancers and celebrities who dazzle the audience with routines from the television show and exciting new choreographed dances. Additional events on theme cruises include dance lessons with the ship's professional dancers, a special fashion show featuring glamorous show costumes and a chance to meet the dance pros and celebrities, ask questions and take photos with them. Celebrities and professional dancers for 2015 will be announced in the coming weeks.

"Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Dance Competition for Guests
Beginning with cruises that depart on or after Sept. 21, 2014, and continuing with sailings departing through Nov. 24, 2015, every sailing on all 15 ships in the Holland America Line fleet will feature exclusive "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" programming. Included are complimentary dance lessons with the ship's dance pros and a dance competition that gives guests an opportunity to compete for a chance to represent their ship on the Champions Cruise. The range of eligible dance competition cruises vary slightly by ship based on actual departure dates; specific eligibility schedules and complete rules for the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" dance competition are posted at www.hollandamerica.com.

Following preliminary rounds on each cruise finalists are paired with a Holland America Line dance professional to perform center stage in the ship's main show lounge. A judging panel — ship officers, shipboard professional dancers and other cruise staff — will score participants' performances and combine those scores with audience appreciation scores for a total tally to determine the winning guest. Judges onboard the theme cruises may also include some of the "Dancing with the Stars" dance pros or celebrities.

Winners of the guest competitions with the highest scores from each of Holland America Line's ships will win a free ocean-view stateroom for two on the Champions Cruise to compete for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy and title of Holland America Line's "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" Champion. There will be one winner from each ship on the Champions Cruise sailing aboard Nieuw Amsterdam Jan. 10, 2016.

For more information about the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" program and Holland America Line, contact a travel professional or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com. Complete rules for the "Dancing with the Stars: At Sea" dance competition are posted at www.hollandamerica.com.

Editor's note: Photos from previous theme cruises that featured Tristan MacManus, Sabrina Bryan, two-time Mirrorball trophy winners Kym Johnson and Mark Ballas, Olympian Shawn Johnson and television personality Carson Kressley are available at https://www.cleanpix.com/cleanpix/portal/WNdb-fFX-cwW.

Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America Blog.  Access all social media outlets via the Online Communities quick link on the home page at www.hollandamerica.com.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE:  CCL and CUK)]
Holland America Line's fleet of 15 ships offers more than 500 cruises to 415 ports in 98 countries, territories or dependencies.  One- to 110-day itineraries visit all seven continents and highlights include Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; four annual Grand Voyages; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. The line currently has a new 2,650-guest ship, ms Koningsdam, on order for delivery in February 2016 from Fincantieri shipyard.

Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, a commitment totaling more than $500 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes — Explorations Cafe powered by The New York Times, Digital Workshop powered by Windows, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds.

World's Leading Cruise Lines
Holland America Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.  Visit us at www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.

About Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the U.S. version of the BBC's international smash hit series, Strictly Come Dancing, where celebrities are paired with professional ballroom dance instructors and compete for a coveted Mirrorball trophy. Dancing with the Stars is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for ABC.  The fan-favorite has garnered 71 Emmy® nominations and 13 wins since its inception, breaking the Emmy® record in 2009, 2012 and 2013 for the most nominations for a non-fiction program in a single award year. DWTS has also been honored with various main program awards including the GLAAD Media Award, NAACP Award, Realscreen Award, Imagen Award, and two People's Choice Awards. Veteran host, Tom Bergeron has also been honored with two Critics Choice Awards in addition to taking home the 64th Primetime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Host.

About BBC Worldwide. BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).  Its vision is to build the BBC's brands, audiences, commercial returns and reputation across the world.  This is achieved through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values.  The business also champions British creativity globally.

In 2013/14, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £157.4m and headline sales of £1,042.3m and returned £173.8m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview.

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SOURCE Holland America Line